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FOUR AGAINST ONE;
ceiled hall, dimly illuminated by a single
lamp.
., Oger was borne up a stair whose steps he
mentally tried to count, and into a large
room, lighted by a fire that burned on a
hearth. '
The dwarf was laced in an armchair in
the ruddy light 0 the blaze, and his captor
stepped back and looked at the prize so
easily won.
“Hugh has dofft-d the mask at last!” said
this man, suddenly, breaking the silence in
a voice whose an-cent made Oger start
“I do not know about that," responded the
dwarf, carelcsslyi ‘]"Ynu ma know morg
about that than , a th ugh have serve
Master Hugh along time.”
While Hugh's servant spoke, he was scru-
tinizing his captor
This personage was a man of tive-iind-
forty, with clear, piercing ova-s like an
eagles and it breadth of shoulders that pro-
claimed his strength. There were a few
gray hairs oin his head alnd in the full heard
that covt-re ant concea ed the lower part 0
his face. His hands were small and white.
but the fingers were unusually long, and
Linda Oger shludder when he thought of them
meeting at a iuman tiroat.
Although the dwarf had visited every nook
and cranny in New York, he believed that
he saw this man for the first time.
’ "So you think I know a good deal about
,,','our master?" said the stranger, with a light
laugh. “I ought to know a good deal about
the people on the Island. Hugh comes often
to NewdY3rk by nilght.”
Oger i not rep y.
“He was here last night. You were his
sole escort, my dear Oger; but to-night he
came with quite a cavalcade. They were
sailors, too. Any fool could tell that by the
wa the rode.”
Sail] tl)i’e Idlwalrlflhtgldhhis tongue. f t
“ trust u e t is risoner com or a-
bly lodged,”t e spy went?on, to Oger‘s as
tonishment. “Did he use one of Marchant’s
orders of arrest to secure the lady?”
This question started Oger. . '
f "W1l)l0 age you?(;’ he fexcltaimeil. springinfg]
mm is c air an con ron ing t ie man wi
an attitude intended to be striking, but
which excited the spy's merriment. “You
must be abroad every night plying your
avocatiun. lf you know so much about
Hugh Marston, why do you question me?"
“I walnt to refresh your memory];
“ wi l not answer ou any more.
Oger went back to tyhe chair by the hearth
and dropped sullenly into it.
For a minute the s y eyed him with a good
natured twinkle in his eyes; then he stepped
forward until he towered above Oger like a‘
giant.
“A truce to this bantering, Oger.” he Said.
inadeep voice. "I want to know 9- few
“limb on shore.
18
things. I am not omnipresent. Who was
Hugh’s prisoner to-night?"
If Oger intended to play stubborn any
longer, the look that accompanied the voice
was enough to deter the bravest.
“You may hold your tongue if you wish!"
he continued. “In that event you may not
be of much service to Hugh Marston here-
after. Now, what do you say?"
“The prisoner was Esta Gilmer,” Oger
said, and the spy’s eyes glittered as if to say:
“I suspected as much."
‘ %he was arrested by Hugh?"
" 'es."
“With one of the orders?”
"I do not know about that.”
“He keeps some secrets to himself, then?
I thought it was his custom to share all with
you. ’
“Not all." said Oger, with a grin.
“Where were Ctesar and Brutus when the
girl was taken?” ,
“At the shore, probably. You don’t know
what took place in the sound tonight?”
“Perhaps not."
“One of his majesty’s ships were plun-
dered by a lot of men who wore owl faces,"
cried Oger. greatly excited. “They were
afraid to light fair, for they sneaked from
the shore in whale boats and surrounded the
Cadmus-that was the ship's name-in a fog.
They are a ruscally set of plundcrers, who
deservearope at the yard-arm or a stout
My cheeks burned while I
listened to Master Hugh’s story of the in-
famous attack. He was there.”
“Ah !“ ejaculated the spy.
“Yes, sir, Hugh was there, and insulted by
the captain of the Owls," continued Oger,
who sprang up and brought his fist down
upon a table near by by way of emphasis.
“Captain Herndon has sworn to hang every
niother’s son of them, and he will do it.
Fine fellows these Americans be! They
seek their prey at night like owls and
tigers.”
Oger’s excitement amused the spy, who
did not interrupt him, for he was getting
news which seemed to please him.
“Hugh was insulted, eh?” he asked.
“Well?"
“That's all I know," Oger replied. going
back to the chair, from whose depths his
eyes glittered like an angry basilisk‘s. "I
wish had those Owls under my hand for a
niinute,just one. I'd crush them and all
their friends!"
The close of the last sentence was a chal-
lenge, but the spy did not take up the gants
let.
“You've acted nicely to-night, Oger,”he
said. “I did not cage you for nothing. How
do on like this room?"
he dwarf understood the uestion
“I am to stay here 9" he sai .
“Fur awhile."
“Go and look at the windows: pull the